Customer Reviews

Blood and Memory: The Quickening Book Two

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The first book in this trilogy started well with interesting charecters, new ideas for motivating the protagonist, and at least a semi-original plot tool. Every ounce of potential is ruined by this second book. Both the hero and villain become as one dimensional as the paper they are printed on. All characters in the book become both blindingly intuitive and amazingly dense depending on what the author needed for an outcome in a given scene. Someone who can spot a certain trap from miles off in one scene mindlessly falls victim to a second trap in another. The unique plot tool is used once to achieve something that could have been profound or at least interesting but the way the scene is contrived to use it is so ludicrous that it spoils the effect. One can hope that her next book will avoid these pitfalls but this one is doomed to garage sales and remainder piles.

Picked up this book for it's potential from the first book. I finished it, but definately lets say it was a struggle. The main characters seems to fall into the same mistakes that failed them in the first book. Do they ever learn from their mistakes? None of the characters seems to really do anything (besides celimus) other than just talk about their problems and after they talk about it the baddie just comes along knowing everything and makes them have more things to talk about. As I've said earlier, Celimus is sooo annoying in his 1 dimensionality that it makes me sick. I wanted to really like this book for what it could had been!!! Really!! I tried!!

2 1/2 stars

The magic of Myrren's Gift has saved Wyl Thirsk's life again, although not his body... He finds himself now in the body of the female assasin who has killed the last body he inhabited, that of Romen Koreldy. Wyl still needs to try and protect his sister from the evil king Celimus. He also needs to find a way to protect his love, the Queen of Briavel, from having to marry Celimus. Plus find a way to rescue his friends from the northern kingdom. ... And he needs to find out what is behind Myrren's strange gift to him by finding her mysterious father.

Surrounded by an assortment of interesting characters, Wyl proceeds in his various quests--ultimately to save the kingdom he loves from destruction.

Several questions are answered, but many more remain, and I eagerly look forward to reading the next book.

Kept alive by the magic of the Quickening, warrior Wyl Thirsk witnessed ruthless King Celimus of Morgravia kill Myrren the Witch; the person who gave him his paranormal skill to switch bodies. He vows vengeance while he resides inside his third body that of Faryl the female assassin. Romen Koreldy had killed Wyl's body, which due to Myrren's Quickening enabled the deceased to move his soul inside his "conqueror". When Faryl killed Wyl's second body that once belonging to Romen, he moved inside her flesh. In each case he kept his memories expanded by that of the body he uses.

King Celimus plans to conquer neighboring Briavel either by marrying Queen Valentyna or invasion. Concluding that her country will be slaughtered in a war, Valentyna ponders marriage to the insane abusive Celimus, which she believes would be worse than death, but also fears the outcome to her people if the vicious soldiers of Morgravia attacked. Wyl continues his search for his sister, his desire to return to his beloved beleaguered queen, his need to kill Celimus, and finally trying to understand the Quickening.

This terrific dark fantasy will get fans to believe in sorcery especially the Quickening but to better understand what is going on especially with the magic, new readers should start with book one, MYRENN'S GIFT. The story line is action-packed as Celimus puts in motion his scheme to annex his neighbor while Wyl in a female's body (interesting psychological twist) struggles with several potentially conflicting objectives. Readers will question his thinking skills because he makes the same fundamental errors which places him in unnecessary jeopardy, but that cranks up the excitement so that the audience has a fabulous saga to follow.

Harriet Klausner

After struggling through the first book, I gave this one a chance based on the story's "potential" and the hopes that the second time around the writing could only improve.

It doesn't. I made it about 75 pages in and put it down mid sentence.

I'm just glad I got it from the library and did not shell out any $$ for it.

This is a fabulous continuation to Book One, "Myrren's Gift".

In my opinion, Fiona McIntosh is quickly becoming one of the best fantasy writers out there; this work ranks up there with the heavy weight authors of the genre such as George Martin ( Fire and Ice), Scott Bakker ( The Prince of Nothing), and Stephen Erikson (The Malazan Book of the Fallen)

This original storyline keeps you turning the pages with its fast pace and unexpected developments. Just when you thinks things are finally settling down...well, another surprise is just around the corner. As with the first book, magic, deceit, love, cruelty and betrayal play a part in telling of this magnificent tale.

All in all, simply great fantasy writing! The final book in this trilogy is due out early next year and I can hardly wait. If you enjoy the fantasy/adventure genre then read "Blood and Memory", you will not be disappointed.

This book started a little rocky when I first read it. The first chapter was definitly not my favorite, though after the story had started, the epic tale of Wyl Thrisk had me in its hold.

Before I explain any more, I will mention that I despise books that are predictable - This is not one of those books. The many twists and turns of this book kept me fascinated and the series in its entirety was well worth every penny.

If you are a lover of magic and fantasy, want something new and original and dont like predictable storylines:

Buy. This. Book.

I'm on 3/4 of the book and I like it very much. Even more then the first book of The Quickening! More magic, more fun, as far as I'm concerned!

I will be brief in my review, mainly because I just finished this book and honestly am far too eager to start reading the next one.

But this is an amazing book, in an amazing series, and is very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

Buy it.

Read it.

You wont be disappointed.

Blood and Memory is the second book in the Quickening trilogy (after Myrren's Gift and before Bridge of Souls).

As Wyl Thirsk is once again victim of Myrren's strange gift, he decides to set off in search of the witch's real father, hoping he will help him understand the magic and put a stop to the curse.

Meanwhile, Celimus's ambition is steadily growing to gigantic proportions. The young and tyrannic king of Morgravia is determined to see the Thirsk family exterminated and his next target is Wyl's younger sister Ylena. Wyl sends his friend Elspyth to track her down at Rittylworth's monastery only to find the place ransacked by Celimus's mercenaries.

Wyl also has to try and warn his beloved Queen Valentyna of Briavel of Celimus's madness and prevent the impending marriage that is supposed to bring peace between both realms and unity against Cailech of the Mountain Kingdom.

Again, the startling twists and turns are numerous in this book, and the different plot lines intertwine into a complex and fascinating weave. I can't wait to see how the story will resolve itself!